Radiata Lionfish

The Radiata Lionfish hunts like a matador, spreading those elaborately barred pectoral fins to corner smaller fish against rock before inhaling them whole — it can swallow prey pushing half its own body length. Every one of those showy dorsal spines is loaded with a protein-based venom that delivers a genuinely miserable sting, not lethal to a person but not something you want to find out about with bare hands near a fish net. Give it tankmates too large to eat and this is an easygoing, low-maintenance predator that will eat happily for years.

Care level: Easy · Temperament: Predatory · Max size: ~10" · Min tank: 125+ gal · Diet: Carnivore, live/frozen meaty foods